Tuesday, November 03, 2009

a moment of perfect clarity



sometimes, you find yourself in heaven a used bookstore and you find the most marvelous and unexpected thing. something you didn't even know existed, but when you saw it and paged through it, it made your molecules hum in perfect alignment and you knew that you had to have it. and you thanked your lucky stars that someone saw fit to sell off a woman named birgitta schøning's fabulous collection of embroidery and quilting books. and you wish, just for a moment, that you had had the chance to know her or at the very least to see what she made with the inspiration she found. and you wonder if the inspiration you'll find there will echo hers or continue hers or somehow carry along the line that extends clear into the book. and you sigh. and you are happy. and oddly you realize you have no problem reading swedish.


this is a precursor to elizabeth's marvelous soul food project
(don't worry, i've already scanned and sent it to her.)


close-ups of the above quilt


this is also loaded with embroidered words and clearly dense with meaning


i wondered aloud once whether memory can be preserved in cloth.
and now i believe it can.


more amazing embroidery

and the quilts in this book. so much inspiration. which i'll save for another day.

sometimes you find a treasure when you least expect it.
and when you most need it.

21 comments:

MissBuckle said...

How fun for you... It's funny how treasures turn up...

will said...

I would like to see more of what the Japanese do regarding their best artisans. Those still living become "Living National Treasures".

And if a living Japanese artisan becomes significant they will sometimes take the name of a master who practiced the same trade generations before.

Honoring arts and crafts is something we've gotten away from as pop entertainment now fills everyday consciousness.

BALLET NEWS said...

amazing !

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Truly wonderful treasures!

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

Such intricate work!!

Wait... This means you can read my book too! Did you see that I made my debut as a poet last month at a poetry festival and published my first book? Illustrated poetry. Yay! I'm going to translate it (Swedish - English) as well but haven't had the time yet.

Elizabeth said...

Had to come by and just see/drool one more time.

Ju said...

I just love patchwork. There's something to learn on my wish list. Well chosen post.

Winchester Manor said...

Not what I would picture when I hear the word quilt...these are truly works of art! Absolutely stunning!!

Mari Mansourian said...

beautiful, hey by the way i posted the recipe of the dish i had posted the other day, stop by :))

Char said...

oh....my

love this

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

My soul. These are amazing.

Cwybrow said...

Oh my GAAAHD I want it. WANT.

Zuzana said...

Ah, Swedish book, how fun.;) I so recognize the sentiment, the way we find something as if were meant to.;)
The pictures are lovely.;)
xo

Barb said...

a true treasure!

SE'LAH... said...

totally inspiring.

xo

Maggie May said...

unexpected joys are wonderful:)

Magpie said...

those are so beautiful that i'm on the verge of weepy. i love that kind of stuff.

Janean said...

amazing! true talent!

urbaNiche said...

this is such a keepsakes treasure. i want to own one!
very inspirational

Dutchbaby said...

The brown quilt with a different embroidery in every single octagon is impressive as heck! My goodness!

Dutchbaby said...

P.S. You may be interested in my posts on the Pacific International Quilt Festival:

http://godutchbaby.blogspot.com/search/label/Pacific%20International%20Quilt%20Festival